Paradox Interactive is certainly high on giving it’s upcoming 2.5D action side-scroller an 80’s/90’s edge but then that’s part of what makes The Showdown Effect cool. After all, who wouldn’t want to be in one of those high-flying explosive action flicks from the past? The new “Meet the Cast” video showcases four of the action-movie archetypes you’ll be able to choose as well as a look at the multiplayer and input from Arrowhead action stars Johan Pilstedt and Emil Englund.

The characters include Dutch McClone, a “time-traveling Austrian searching for his identity” (think TimeCop meets Schwarzenegger); Lance Koboldski, a “grizzled cop with only one day until retirement” (Die Hard/Lethal Weapon); Hailey Skye, a “plucky girl genius who’ll stop at nothing to uncover her father’s killer” (we’re kind of lost on this one but we’ll get back to you); and Shur Foo, a “gentleman who seems to believe there’s no problem you can’t solve by punching it” – which is basically the dream job of everyone here.

Of course, you can also sign up for a chance to take part in the exclusive beta test and find out just how much of an explosive riot the game. Click here for more details.

The Showdown Effect will be coming to Mac and PC, but the release date is still to be announced.